‘Protorexia’: can a protein-heavy diet become an unhealthy obsession?
Back to Topic
Click to Print
Useful Websites
Glossary Term Selection
Why are you really using protein shakes?
By Rachel Moss
When eaten as part of a balanced diet, protein allows our body to grow and repair itself. But is there a risk of becoming obsessed with protein to the extent that behaviour becomes symptomatic of an eating disorder?
The term ‘protorexia’ has been coined to describe an unhealthy fixation with protein-heavy foods and supplements, such as protein shakes and chicken.
According to the numerous news outlets and bloggers writing on the subject, those suffering also tend to cut out foods they deem “unhealthy”, such as carbs, in a bid to lose weight or build muscle.
The term has been linked to orthorexia – a condition defined as an “unhealthy obsession with healthy eating”, which has yet to be formally recognised as an eating disorder.
According to eating disorders charity Beat, much like ‘orthorexia’, protorexia is not a recognised eating disorder and we should be careful how we are using the term. However, that doesn’t mean people a...
Want to see the rest of this article?
Would you like to see the rest of this article and all the other benefits that Issues Online can provide with?
- Useful related articles
- Video and multimedia references
- Statistical information and reference material
- Glossary of terms
- Key Facts and figures
- Related assignments
- Resource material and websites
